Risk assessment competency standard

NSI's Chris Hayes, Senior Operations Manager (Systems) describes that while life safety fire risk assessments are mandatory in many buildings, those undertaking them have not had to be competent.

Currently anyone can market themselves as a fire risk assessor without needing to demonstrate relevant credentials. Consequently, those responsible for fire safety in commercial buildings and blocks of residential flats are highly vulnerable and could be placing themselves at significant risk.

Work by fire sector organisations to resolve competence criteria issues led to the introduction in August 2025 of a pivotal British Standard: BS 8674:2025 - Built Environment: Framework for competence of individual fire risk assessors.

Read the full article in the latest edition of UK Fire magazine.